Cumberland council tables lodge fee schedule, appoints staff and honors Community School principal

The Cumberland Town Council on March 5 took several administrative actions and made scheduling decisions ahead of later meetings.

Ordinance tabled: Councilors voted to table Ordinance 25-04a, which would establish a fee schedule for the Lodge at Diamond Hill, until the March 19 meeting to allow further review. Councilor Bolio said the ordinance should include fee waivers or reduced costs for Parks and Recreation programming so the department can use the space for scheduled and ad hoc programs.

Appointments: The council approved the appointment of Sarah Cleary as accounts payable administrator and James Entau as town engineer. Mayor and administration staff said both appointees are current town employees and part of an internal reorganization; the minutes record both appointments as approved by voice vote.

Recognition: The council adopted a resolution recognizing Community School Principal Cheryl Vaughn for being named Rhode Island’s elementary principal of the year. The council read the resolution into the record and recorded the vote as unanimous; the resolution notes Principal Vaughn’s 41 years in education and cites student-performance measures referenced in the text.

Announcements: Councilor Bolio announced a public workshop on the Cumberland Climate Resilience Audit scheduled for March 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cumberland Public Library Meeting Room 2 on Diamond Hill Road. Bolio said the audit will seek public input on priorities for climate resilience and possible changes to land-use and infrastructure regulations.

The council adjourned at 8:18 p.m. after a final public-comment period in which no in-person or virtual speakers were recorded in the meeting minutes.